Injuries

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Lawyer Recovers $1,000,000 for Client

Complex regional pain syndrome is one of the most difficult injuries to pursue in court because many of the symptoms of the condition are not recognized and documented by treating doctors.

Maryland lawyer, George Patterson has handled several injury cases involving a medical condition that is often poorly understood by insurance adjusters and many doctors. The condition is known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and also as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Complex regional pain syndrome occurs when a person's sympathetic nervous system still believes that a body part is injured after that injury has resolved. CRPS or RSD causes intense sensitivity and pain.George Patterson obtained a $1,000,000 recovery for a CRPS client whose claim had been denied by an insurance company. The insurance adjuster thought the incident that caused the injury was too insignificant to have led to her disability. CRPS contradicts our expectations and experiences with injuries. Insurance adjusters, jurors and judges have these same expectations and experiences. CRPS cases require an attorney with a deep understanding of the condition to overcome these obstacles.

What to Expect

Is this a real injury?

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is difficult to treat, extremely painful and not subject to a diagnosis that can be easily verified through an objective test. Each of these factors make RSD or CRPS cases extremely difficult to resolve with insurance adjusters. Insurance adjusters are trained to focus on objectively verifiable injuries like herniated discs, broken bones, bruises and torn ligaments. They tend to compensate complaints of pain that are backed up by injuries that are objectively verifiable and they often dismiss or minimize subjective complaints of pain without corroboration from x-rays, MRIs or visible injury. Insurance adjusters are also inclined to deny compensation for medical treatment that persists after most people with soft tissue injuries recover. It is critical to retain the services of a personal injury lawyer that has litigated complex regional pain syndrome cases to fight against skeptical treatment by insurance adjusters. Lawyers work with evidence and the evidence of complex regional pain syndrome is often missed by doctors and poorly documented.

Proven Results for CRPS Victims

Help requires Understanding and Acceptance that CRPS is real.

In one Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) case, lawyer George Patterson obtained a resolution of the case in the Federal Court located in Greenbelt, Maryland for $587,500. George Patterson’s client with RSD had incurred less than $20,000 in medical bills but was left with constant pain. The complex regional pain syndrome occurred after the Shady Side resident injured his hand in a truck accident that occurred in Prince George’s County. The defense questioned the seriousness and existence of the disorder but was persuaded by an internationally renowned expert on RSD and CRPS hired by personal injury lawyer George Patterson.

Complex regional pain syndrome is very difficult to treat and resolve. Such conditions are frustrating to patients and their doctors. Conventional treatments for the underlying injuries that lead to the condition are ineffective and painful for the patient to endure. Some of the associated symptoms such as hair loss, a limb occasional developing a blue tint, changes in the growth of finger nails, differing temperature in one limb, and spreading of the condition to other limbs may not initially be recognized by doctors as indications of CRPS. Notations of such objective findings are often given little weight by insurance adjusters. Insurance companies will demand increasing levels of objective evidence of an injury the longer it takes a car accident victim to recover. Complex regional pain syndrome victims often deal with complaints of intense pain that persist for years. CRPS is an unusual injury because it generates debilitating pain with minimal objective signs of injury. It is difficult for lawyers to prove that a person who looks fine is seriously injured.

In more than 90 percent of cases, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is triggered by a clear history of trauma or injury. The most common triggers are fractures, sprains/strains, soft tissue injury (such as burns, cuts, or bruises), limb immobilization (such as being in a cast), surgery, or even minor medical procedures such as a needle stick.

Protecting CRPS Victims

CRPS is real and devastating

RSD or CRPS cases require skilled expert witnesses because the injury claims are often not supported by clear medical evidence like a fracture shown on an x-ray or a herniated disc visible on an MRI. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy cases are vulnerable to attacks by doctors hired by insurance companies because the symptoms typically do not fully appear until weeks or months after a car accident. This delay makes it easier for experts to suggest other causes for the condition than an injury from a car accident. Complex regional pain syndrome also cannot be verified by a diagnostic test like an MRI or nerve conduction study. This makes it easy for doctors hired by insurance companies to suggest that the complaints should not be believed because the person is seeking compensation.

Maryland complex regional pain syndrome lawyer, George Patterson recently obtained a policy limits offer on behalf of a client that had two prior car accident lawyers that failed to obtain any offers for the client. This is not uncommon because complex regional pain syndrome requires significant knowledge about the condition to properly present the claim to an insurance company or to a jury. If you have been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome or reflex sympathetic dystrophy from a car accident or truck accident please contact lawyer George Patterson for a free consultation.

I was in an accident in April of 2010 and had two lawyers prior to hiring George Patterson who did nothing to move my case along. He worked hard to resolve my case and kept me well informed. It is the middle of January 2013 and my case has now been resolved and finalized. He did more for me in less than 3 months than two other lawyers did in 2 years. He is amazing and I would highly recommend him to anyone going through a tough personal injury case like I had. He was able to settle out of court and I am extremely thankful to him and his team. Meet with him and you will see that he isn't a lawyer who only cares about money his first priority is his clients

Stephanie

A car accident client with CRPS.

Anyone who has met and spent any time with a person suffering from complex regional pain syndrome knows that this condition is real and life altering. Many doctors that have encountered the suffering caused by this condition have devoted their lives to helping people with CRPS. My job is to show juries and judges what has moved many doctors to devote their careers to search for an end to this suffering.

George Patterson, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Lawyer

what to do

Photograph Your Injuries

Emergency room doctors frequently fail to document all injuries. If the injury is not documented it will not be compensated.

Accept Help

Friends and family will help get you through an accident or injury. Those that help are in the best position to explain to a judge or jury what you went through.

Stay Positive

Accidents and injuries should be overcome. A positive attitude will improve your chances of a good recovery.

No Recorded Statements

Insurance companies will quickly request a recorded statement for the purposes of establishing a basis to deny your claim.

Seek Medical Attention

Injuries are compensated if they are medically documented. Untreated injuries are rarely compensated and never compensated fully.

Keep Medical Appointments

Failure to attend prescribed medical appointments will hurt your chances of a quick recovery and fair compensation for your injuries.

Call a Lawyer

An injury claim is valued based on a stack of medical records, photographs and various documents. A lawyer that is there from the beginning can improve the chances that the records accurately reflect your damages.

Avoid Social Media

Whatever you post on social media may be viewed by the insurance company or their lawyers.

Request a Disability Slip

If you miss work due to injuries the time missed must be documented as medically necessary due to your injuries.

See a Specialist

Medical specialists are more likely to identify and successfully treat your injuries.

Disclose Prior Injuries

Your doctor can exclude prior injuries as a cause of your current complaints if he knows about the prior injuries.

Our Successes

Patterson Law takes pride with every client that recovers. Recovery is more than the settlements and verdicts obtained for our clients. Each and every one of these clients had been shepherded through a process where powerful insurance companies fought to defeat or minimize their claims. Each result represents a client’s dignity being affirmed.

Get Started Today

The complex regional pain syndrome lawyers at Patterson Law are located in Bowie, Maryland near the intersection of Route 301 and Route 50 in Prince George's County, Maryland.Each case is different. Past records are no assurance that our lawyers will be successful in reaching a favorable result in any future case.